Adding Kangaroo Paws To Your Bouquets

Kangaroo paw is the common name for diverse species, in two genus of this family Haemodoraceae, that are widespread in the south west of Western Australia. These perpetual plants are renowned for their distinctive bird attracting flowers. They have tubular flowers coated with thick hairs and open at the peak with 6 claw resembling structures: because of this paw pattern the common name “kangaroo paw” is derived.

The form and color of kangaroo paws make them a unique and rewarding Australian local plant for home gardens. Kangaroo paws are also great cut flowers. They are exported to various parts of the globe and are commercially grown in the USA, Japan and Israel.

Anigozanthos manglesii Kangaroo Paws are the insignia of Western-Australia and are very common there.

The Green Kangaroo Paw is also another prevalent species it varies in color from lemon yellow to bright green and the Catspaw is also very common, with small golden, orange and red flowers.

Diverse species of the extraordinarily shaped Kangaroo Paw typically leave pollen on many different areas of birds’ head. Therefore, pollen from a species is improbable to be deposited in the flowers of another one.

The red and green varieties are easily identified by thier large red and green paw shaped flowers.

The Mangle’s Kangaroo Paw has conventionally been incorporated in Aboriginal medicines.

Honey eaters and wattlebirds also pollinat Kangaroo Paws.

A major disease they suffer from is a fungus, which can cause Ink disease, in this large black spots emerge on the leaves.

The species name, Anigozanthos comes from a Greek word ‘anises’, which means asymmetrical or slanting, and ‘anthos’, which means flower, a reference to the separation of the Kangaroo Paw flower in 6 unequal parts.

Flower Information

Length: Our Anigozanthus are 26 to 32in long and they come packed in bunches of 5 stem.

Anigozanthus are shipped dry. They have to be hydrated and trimmed immediately upon receiving.

Upon delivery, immediately unpack your fresh Kangaroo Paws and cut around one-quarter to one-half inch off the stem at an angle below running water (using a sharp knife not scissors).

Quickly put the stems in a bucket filled with fresh water.

If available, add floral preservative to water. If not then, pour a spoon of sugar in the water (it helps in opening the flowers) and a drop of bleach (to eliminate bacteria).

Don’t add more than 1 drop of bleach.

Replace the floral preservatives and water every two-three days this helps in extending the vase life of the flowers.

Get rid of any wilted foliage that may later fall in the water to steer clear of bacteria. If you are not planning to be display your Kangaroo Paws immediately, then store them in a cold place with plenty of humidity.

While storing bulk Kangaroo Paw flowers, make sure they are not moved from hot to cold or vice-versa temperature in view of the fact that radical temperature changes can blaze flowers.